JCPS superintendent discusses student test results

That ranks the district in the 23rd percentile in the state of Kentucky, which puts it in a classification of "needs improvement."

As for the elementary schools, 74 of them are classified as "needs improvement,” seven are proficient and nine are distinguished.

For middle schools, 20 need improvement, two are proficient and three are distinguished.

For high schools, 14 need improvement, four are proficient and three are distinguished.

Kentucky is the first state in the nation to adopt the Common Core State Standards in math and reading.

So, comparing this year to last year is an apples to oranges comparison.

The new standards are designed to be more rigorous and are in line with college coursework and the 21st century skills required in the workplace.

As a result, math and reading scores were lower among JCPS students.

“Your kid might have a lower score in math and reading this year, but that doesn't mean he or she got dumber. They are now being asked to perform at a higher standard,” said Bob Rodosky with JCPS.

Math and reading scores down across the board, but that's largely because the test is tougher, and the state has raised the bar for students to be classified as proficient.

JCPS said the data itself is invaluable both to them and to parents.

"It's important to know accurate information about where your child stands on this journey to being college and career ready, to be truly ready," said JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens.

But the state said JCPS students are less ready than their counterparts across Kentucky, according to newly-released results from the state's brand new testing and school accountability model.

It shows that JCPS reading proficiency levels are six percent below the state average for elementary students, 9 percent for middle schoolers and just 1 percent for high schoolers.

In math, it's a 5 percent gap for elementary students and 8 percent for middle schoolers, but JCPS has 6 percent more proficient students in its high schools.

At the schoolwide level, four out of five JCPS schools are now classified as needing improvement, as is the district as a whole, which ranks in the bottom 25 percent of districts statewide.

That's actually an improvement from the previous system, which had placed JCPS in the bottom 10 percent of districts the previous two years.

As Hargens unveiled the numbers Friday morning, she stressed that parents need to have a more specific focus.

"Parents should look at how their individual student is doing. Just because a school is in the needs improvement category doesn't mean that (their) child isn't proficient or distinguished or that there aren't any successful students there," said Hargens.

In about a month, all JCPS parents will receive those individual student test results in the mail, with detailed information about what their students needs to improve on.

And Hargens said they will improve.

"All of our students can do this. It's about creating a plan and a path where they have the extra time and support to do it," said Hargens.

JCPS started revamping its entire system in the spring, in anticipation of the new accountability system.

They said the focus is on bringing underperforming students up to speed and up to proficiency, and giving individual schools more resources to get that job done.

The rankings of all JCPS schools span the entire spectrum of student achievement.

The district has 11 elementary schools, four middle schools and six high schools ranked in the top 20 percent in the state, but it also has 37 elementary schools, 12 middle schools and 12 high schools in the bottom 20 percent.

Parents can expect students’ individual results in about a month.

As for counties surrounding Louisville, Bullitt, Hardin, Nelson and Shelby counties also are classified as "needs improvement."

Breckinridge and Spencer counties are "proficient."

Meade and Oldham counties are classified as "distinguished" and are rewarded with "district of distinction."

Breckinridge County

Overall score: 59.4

Ky. rank: 80

Classification: proficient

Bullitt County K-12

Overall score: 55.4

Ky. rank: 51

Classification: needs improvement

Hardin County K-12

Overall score: 57.8

Ky. rank: 66

Classification: needs improvement

Meade County

Overall score: 63.5

Ky. rank: 91

Classification: distinguished

Nelson County K-12

Overall score: 54.1

Ky. rank: 45

Classification: needs improvement

Oldham County K-12

Overall score: 66.3

Ky. rank: 96

Classification: distinguished

Reward: district of distinction

Shelby County K-12

Overall score: 56.0

Ky. rank: 56

Classification: needs improvement

Spencer County K-12

Overall score: 58.7

Ky. rank: 75

Classification: proficient

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